Vibratory feeder for carton flats and the like



W. JONES March 17, 1953 VIBRATORY FEEDER FOR CARTON FLATS AND THE LIKE Filed July 27, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 IN V EN TOR.

March 17, 1953 w. JONES 2,631,851

VIBRATORY FEEDER FOR CARTON FLATS AND THE LIKE Filed July 27, 1950 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Patented Mar. 17, 1 953 VIBRATORY FEEDER FOR CARTON FLATS AND THE LIKE Wickliffe Jones, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to The R. A. Jones and Company, Covington, Ky., a

corporation of Kentucky Application July 27, 1950, Serial No. 176,227

9 Giaims.

This invention relates to apparatus for compactly sustaining, jogging and advancing a bulk quantity of sheet or paper board stock, the sheets disposed in a vertical plane, as distinguished from a stack assembly one upon another, for the consecutive and successive sheet withdrawal, as each reaches a foremost position of the lot, adaptable as an example for carton loading machine for packaging a commodity and also for inserting a liner, description circular sheet, coupon and the like in the carton or for individual sheet handling service.

The feeder may be characterized as a vibratory or pulsating rack or rail extending in a horizontal plane, upon which sheets and the like or paper board cartons in a fiat, knockdown condition are perpendicularly disposed and bearingly sustained, in a batch or bulk quantity to be advanced individually and as a unit toward a discharge end of the rack suitably guided at one or opposite sides, as by a stationary rail or rails or within a magazine and restrained at the discharge end of the rack with the foremost sheet or carton of the lot exposed for individual and consecutive removal or withdrawal.

An object of the invention is to provide a vibratory or differentially reciprocatory rack or rail horizontally disposed to sustain thereon a bulk quantity of sheets, paper board containers in a flat knock-down condition or other sheet material, each perpendicular and in edge bearing engagement upon the rack, to jog and unitarily advance the same toward a discharge end of the rack, at which end, advance of the sheets is restrained and the foremost thereof exposed and available for individual extraction to deliver the same for further operation or service and having all of the sheets in the assembly upon the rack relieved of any load bearing weight or compressive force detrimental to the withdrawal of the sheets individually as they respectively assume a foremost position of the lot, the rack mounted on flexible leaf springs is vibrated at high speed by an electromagnet energized by a regulatably controlled pulsating electric current.

Another object is to provide a vibratory or differentially reciprocatory rack or rail for edgewise sustaining and advancing a bulk quantity. of paper board containers in a fiat knock-down condition the rack or rail constituting a plane strip extending horizontally longitudinally with its opposite plane sides perpendicular for engagement into a slit or spacing commonly exis'ting'between adjoining closure flaps at one or opposite ends of the body of the carton in its flat knock-down condition, thereby straddling the rail, to assist in sustaining the carton thereon against lateral displacement and permitting an edge of the body of the carton to be disposed in bearing engagement upon the rail materially beneficial in advancing the carton which result from the differential reciprocatory action of the rail.

Another object is to feedingly advance a supply of paper board cartons, conventionally merchandised in a flat collapsed condition, in a perpendicular position facilitating in handling the cartons as they are individually consecutively withdrawn from the bulk supply to open or square and transport the same in an upright position particularly when the merchandise to be packaged is manually deposited into the cartons.

Another object is to provide simple and efficient means and most economical method for feeding a bulk of sheets, fiat paper board and the like for consecutive individual Withdrawal and for controlling and varying the rate of advance or feed.

Various other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully set forth in the following description of the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof and depicting a preferred embodiment, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the vibratory sheet feeder and jogger for a portion of its length, for flat collapsed paper board cartons.

Figure 2 is an enlarged end view thereof.

Figure 3 is an enlarged section on line 33, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the carton embodying magazine, at one side modified from that shown in Figure 1, primarily being of reduced length and the carton transporting rail, centrally of the magazine.

Figure 5 is an enlarged top plan' view of the forward end of the side of the magazine which carries the means for restraining the advance of the foremost carton of the supply.

Figure 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the pulsating electromagnet shown in Figure 1 for actuating the carton supporting and transmitting rail.

The feeder is disclosed for advancing or translating a pack or bulk supply of cartons in a collapsed flat condition, disposed in a vertical plane within a magazine or guideway extending in a horizontal plane, open at the upper side for its full width for conveniently inserting or depositing the cartons therein and its discharge or outlet end is equipped to restrain the foremost carton in an appropriate position with av face surface thereof exposed to obtain a hold thereon, as by one or a plurality of suction plungers for individual and consecutive withdrawal of the cartons from the feeder for transfer, as upon a conveyor or other means for progressively erecting, squaring, loading and closing the carton in its transit. In some instances a paper board liner is appropriately initially inserted before the merchandise, which is in a fiat condition likewise taken from a feeder analogous to the feeder herein disclosed for the cartons and similarly a pamphlet, circular sheet, coupon and the like may be inserted into the carton supplied from similar feeders.

Referring to the drawings, the magazinein, which the sheets are pulsatively advanced to bring the foremost of the lot for individual withdrawal, is representative of a guideway composed of a pair of side rails l and 2, extending in parallelism in a horizontal plane and suitably spacedapart for an edge bearing contact of a pack quantity of sheets of a definite size dimension deposited intermediate of the side rails. As illustrated each side rail constitutes a pair of angle bars in superposed relation with the lateral flange of each thereof extending outwardly and relativelyin parallelism and connected together at a midpoint of their length by a block 3, having a pair of rods 4, 4, fixed thereto and extending laterally therefrom, as supporting means for adjustably mounting the rails upon a machine to which the stock within the magazine is supplied.

The side rails may be of an extended length for a givencapacity or supply of sheets and type of sheet product utilized, as agiven quantity or. flat collapsed or folded paper board cartons will require more space than thin paper sheet material.

The sheets or cartons in their flat collapsed knock-down condition are placed and sustained withthe magazine vertically upon a horizontally disposed, vibratory or pulsating rail for advancement thereby and thereon toward a discharge end of the rail. Conventional types of foldable paper boardcontainers usually have closure flaps extending from opposite ends of the sides of the carton body, which in the collapsed condition of the carton permit the flapsfor one end of the carton as anadjoining pair-or pairs to straddle th'evibratory rail; which. is of thin gauge metal with planeopposite sides, so that the carton sup-' ply carried by the vibratory rail need only be guided at. oneside of the magazine, except at the discharge end, as shown in Figure 4, where it is. beneficial to withhold lateral shift. or movementof the cartons, and at which the feeding advance of the foremost carton is restrained and held exposedfor appropriate engagement, as by vacuum cups or other means, for withdrawal thereof from the magazine and vibratory rail. The. carton in. a withdrawal motion is opened, bottom flaps closed and the carton transferred upon a conveyor or transporting means for loading and closure of the top end. With the elimination of a guide at one of the sides of the carton supply, frictional drag of the cartons is materially reduced, resulting in a more uniform ad van'cement of the carton and relief to carton advancing power requirements.

The manner of mounting the side rails of the magazine to a machine of which the feeder is a component is optional and more or less depends upon the type and structure of the machine.

The forward end of one of the side rails, in the" present instance the siderail I, is provided with a clamp, extending. the;fullheighthof the rail and comprises a base platefi, fixed to the rail and a jaw plate 6 clamped to the base plate by a nut I for adjustably binding a sheet retaining lip plate 3 between and to the clamp plates 5 and 6 having its forward end extending therebeyond and provided with a lateral lip 9, projecting into the path of the guideway to restrain and stall the foremost carton or sheet from further advance by the feeder and maintaining the same in an appropriate position or station with its front face exposed for contact by one or a plurality of vacuum of suction cups (indicated in dotted line Figure 2) as upon the end of a movable plunger to obtain a hold upon the carton forits withdrawal from the magazine. The carton withdrawal mechanism being separate and distinct hereof is not illustrated nor described herein as to detail of construction.

Paper board cartons of the type illustrated are commercialized in a fiat collapsed condition. The style of carton 18, as shown in- Figure 2,,h-as a four sided body and when erected, square or rectangular in outline and in the flat" conditionwith sides in pairs overlie one another, with sev: oral or all Qtthe sides having closure flaps H and 12 extending therefrom at relative opposite ends which fold, inwardly to close the opposite ends ofthe carton'and usually one of the flaps inwardly toclose the opposite ends of the carton as the; closure flap l2,- generally designated a. tuckingflap which in the closed condition of the carton externally overlies the otherfiaps'ofthe series and has a folding end or terminal portion as atab which is tucked into the body of; the carton or interlocked with another flap. The structural design of the; carton is; optional; as; many diiferent designs are produced and therefore separate or apart fro n thestructure of; the feeder.

Asthe carton flaps arehingedly movable, upon: the body,,it is beneficial to restrain, somethereof in line or plane with the body sides and-preferably with which connection isemade' to individu ally and consecutively withdraw, or. extract the cartons from the. magazine origuideway of; the feeder; Also as the sides cfthe-body of: the foremost carton is only restrainedor blocked'a-t one side of the.d-ischarge end of the magazine ,by the lip*9aengaging over, the edgeofthe body of the carton, while the opposite edgeis free and; toward which the, cartonis .contacted for with drawal from themagazine, the flaps for-.such-bodyiv side are eachrespectively engaged and-restrained by one of a pair of stationarypins or lugs. l3; I4; respectively asan upperandclower; suitably supported. The pins f3, l4, and the lip. 9app'ro+ priately block the forem'ostcarton from discharge upon'the advancing or translating: pressure imposed thereon within. the magazine, while notmaterially interfering. against withdrawal froman extraneous force;

A rack or carrier rail l5 forsupporting;trans latingand jogging'the cartons within the mag azine', andifor the: type-of'carton disclosed is-of fiatstrip form disposed; approximately:centraily and: vertically beneath the loweropen endeofz the magazine longitudinally thereof for an edge -bears: ing contact with the'zcartons. As shownirr Fig;- ure-2,- the rack projects into aidivision space-be; tween theiadjoinin'g closureflaps Hi and Iiat the lower side of the bod'yof the car-t'onsin their vertical position within" the? magazine. The spaceing of thexflaps at the'opposi teaendsof thecart-on body, WhiCh DOImEHYTiS} that'fof a:. slit; for one end is proportionaltforg the refceptiofiof theiraok and bring the same into bearing contact with an edge of the walls or side of the carton body, which are not subject to a degree of flex as the flaps, that extend beyond the depth of the magazine. The rack for translating the cartons is rapidly reciprocated horizontally and longitudinally of the magazine in minute pulsating strokes.

The rack 55 is fixed and vertically sustained upon a rail it, extending lengthwise thereof. The rail it is of angle form in cross-section providing a lateral flange beneath the lower edge of the rack and has its forward end inclined downwardly, to which an armature i! of a pulsating electromagnet is fixed. The magnet i8 is mounted upon a stationary base it, as a part of the magnet assembly and for mounting the unit within the machine which the feeder serves. The depending end of the rail 16 with the armature ii unitarily are connected to a flat or leaf spring 26, extending crosswise of the rail l and above the magnet and has each of the opposite ends respectively fixed upon a stud 2|, fixed to and extending from the base it.

The rail 55, intermediate of its length and lower side is iixeed upon an end of a flat or leaf spring 22, angularly disposed and in parallelism with the depending forward end of the rail 56. The opposite end of the spring 22 is suitably mounted upon the base It which carries the electromagnet. The rail is is thus substantially sustained upon flexible supports for vibration at high speed upon rapidly energizing and deenergizing the electromagnet.

The magnet when energized, sharply draws the rack with the springs in connection therewith in one direction and when deenergized results in release of the armature whereupon the springs move the rack in a reverse direction although not as sharply as the power stroke, whereby the differential reciprocation advances the carton in one or forward direction to the discharge end of the magazine. As all movement is confined to the leaf springs which the rack connects, there are no mechanical parts requiring oiling or other maintenance. A separate electric controller located either close or at a distance from the feeder micrometrically adjustable may be employed for governing and varying the vibratory motion of the rack and as electromagnet vibrator and other types of vibrating motors are commercial products for a variety of other uses, a more detailed description and disclosure thereof need not be included herein, being separate and apart from the present invention.

To assist in translating the cartons within the magazine in an erect position and compact condition, a weight or block 23, preferably of wood material, provided with a groove across and within its lower side for a straddling engagement upon the rack and thereby coordinately advances with and compacts the carton to prevent any distortion thereof in Withdrawing the foremost carton from the magazine, while free to be manually slid upon the rack to readily retract the same for replenishing the carton supply.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An apparatus for feeding a stock of paper sheets and the like to a point for consecutive removal of the sheets individually from the stock, comprising a magazine for guiding the sheets of the stock in a vertical plane for translation and restraining transit at an end of the magazine toward which the sheets are advanced for individual consecutive extraction therefrom, a reciprocatory rack extending longitudinally of the magazine with the sheets in edgewise bearing contact thereon for jogging and advancing the sheets by its reciprocatory action, the rear end of the stock of sheets having a backing to withhold the same from tilting rearward, an oscillatory leaf spring at one end connecting with the rack and at an opposite end anchored to a stationary support for carrying the rack, and an electromagnet device having a spring supported armaturein connection with said rack, the winding of the magnet of said device supplied by a repeatedly interrupted electric current to cause the magnet in repeated rapid succession to attack and release the armature and thereby in conjunction with the springs reciprocate the rack, by differential reciprocation to advance the sheets toward the sheet restraining end of the magazine.

2. An apparatus for feeding a stock of paper sheets and the like to a point for consecutive removal of the sheets individually from the stock,

comprising a magazine for guiding the sheets of the stock in a vertical plane for translation and restraining transit at an end of the magazine toward which the sheets are advanced for individual consecutive extraction therefrom, a reciprocatory rack extending longitudinally of the magazine for bearingly sustaining the stock of sheets within the magazine with the sheets in edgewise bearing contact thereon for jogging and advancing the sheets by its reciprocatory action, the rear nd of the stock of sheets having a backing to withhold the same from tilting rearward, an oscillatory leaf spring at one end con necting with the rack and at an opposite end anchored to a stationary support for carrying the rack, and an electromagnet device having armature in connection with said rack, the winding of the magnet of said device supplied by a repeatedly interrupted electric current to cause the magnet in repeated rapid succession to attract and release the armature and thereby in conjunction with the spring reciprocate the rack, by differential reciprocation to advance the sheets toward the sheet restraining end of the magazine, said spring extending in a vertically inclined direction for vertically pulsating the rack to jog the sheets thereon for relative registration in their transit longitudinal on the rack.

3. An apparatus for feeding a stock of paper sheets and the like to a point for consecutive removal of the sheets individually from the stock, comprising a magazine for guiding the sheets of the stock in a vertical plane for translation and restraining transit thereof at an end of the magazine toward which the sheets are advanced for individual consecutive extraction therefrom, a rack extending and reciprocable longitudinally of the magazine for bearingly sustaining and advancing the sheets of the stock, with the sheets in edgewise bearing contact thereon to jog the same and the rear end of the stock of sheets having a backing to withhold the same from tilting rearward, and electrically pulsatively operated means connecting with said rack to differentially reciprocate the same at a high speed rate for translating the sheets toward the sheet restraining end of the magazine.

4. An apparatus for feeding a stock of paper sheets and the like to a point for consecutive removal of the sheets individually from the stock, comprising a magazine for guiding the sheets of the stock in a vertical plane for translation and restraining transit thereof at an end of the magazine toward which the sheets are advanced for individual consecutive extraction therefrom, a rack extending and reciprocable longitudinally of the magazine for bearingly sus taining and advancing; the sheets of the stock; a backing support slid'ably mounted on said rack". vertically sustaining the sheets upon said rack and unitarilyadvanced therewith and electrically pulsatively operated means connecting with said. rack to differentially reciprocate the same at a" high speed. for translating the sheets toward thesheet restraining end of the magazine.

5. An apparatus for'feeding a stock of paper sheets and the like to a point for consecutive removal of the sheets-individually from the stock, comprising a magazine for guiding the sheets of the stock in: a vertical planefor' translation and restraining transit at an end of the magi-.- azine towardwhich the sheets are advanced for individual consecutive extraction therefrom, a rack for the base of th magazine extending and" reciprocable longitudinally. thereof for bearingly' sustaining and translating the sheets of the stock-,; the sheets extending crosswise of the rack and.

in edgewise bearing contact thereon, and. therear end of the stock or sheets having a' backing;

to withhold the same from tilting rearwardly,-. a.

leaf spring at one end connected to the rack and its opposite end secured to a stationary support for vibratorily mounting saidrack ande'lectrically operated means connecting with said rack" to differentially reciprocate and laterally vibratesaidrack for jogging. the sheets and translate;

the same toward. the. sheet restraining end. of the magazine.

6. A device of the character described; comprising a pair of stationary guide rails for guidingly sustaining a stock. of sheets and the like in a vertical position and one thereof at an end towardzwhich the sheets are advanced for consecu tive sheet withdrawal having a restraining lip to withhold advance of the foremost sheet of the; stock, a longitudinally vibratable rail intermediate of saidguide rails: as a base support for stock of sheets, yieldingly supportingly mounted,v a-- pulsatingelectromagnet having an armature connected with said vibratable-rail for repeated and in rapidsuccession attract-and release said armature for" instituting; a-rapid' differential vi-a brationof said vibratory rail for advancing the sheets sustained and bearingthereon toward the forward-end thereof.

'7. A feeder for' sustaining and advancing a stock quantity of fiat knock-down paper board cartons and the like to successively present a foremost carton thereof for individual transfer therefrom, comprising a flat strip rail horizontally. extended and spring supported for reciprocatory motion longitudinally and having its opposite plane sides vertically disposed for the reception of a stock quantity of cartons straddling; and vertical thereon, means for pulsatively moving the rail longitudinally in one direction and im- 8M. pulsively retracted under thetension of its spring support for differential reciprocation of the rail to singly and unitarily advance the cartons to one, as a discharge end, of the rail and means to restrain advancement the foremost carton, by said rail at the discharge end thereof.

8. A feeder for sustaining and advancing a stocksupply of sheets and the like to succesively present a foremost sheet at a station for individual transfer therefrom, comprising a rail horl-' zontally extended for the reception of a stock quantity of sheets vertically thereon and spring supported for reciprocatory motion longitudinally a stationary guard longitudinally alongside of thesaid rail to guidingly laterally sustain the stock of sheets on said rail, having a lip extending therefrom in the path of sheet traverse on said rail to restrain the foremost sheet of the stock at a station from further advance by said rail for individual transfer therefrom, and power actuated means in combinationi with the spring supporting said rail for effecting differential rail reciprocation to advance the sheet in a definite direction.

9 A feeder for sustaining and advancing a stock supply of sheets and the like to successively present a foremost sheet at a station for individual transfer therefrom, comprising a rail horizontally extended for the reception of a stock quantity of sheets vertically thereon and spring supported for reciprocatory motion longitudinally, a stationary guard longitudinally alongside of the said rail to guidingly laterally sustain the stock: of sheets on said rail, having a lip extending therefrom in the path of sheet traverse on said rail to restrain the foremost sheet of the stock at a station from further advance by said rail for individual transfer therefrom, power actuated means in combination with the spring supporting said rail for effecting differential rail reciprocation to advance the sheet in a definite direction, and a backing block slidably engaged onsaid rail to vertically sustain the sheets at the rear end of the stock supply and unitarily advanced therewith.

WICKLIFFE JONES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 1 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

